Tube device and method for selectively stiffening a tube device

Abstract

The invention relates to a tube device (100), in particular a lock-type device for insertion in a body lumen, that can be reversibly stiffened under the effect of pressure by a concentric arrangement of an inner (1) and outer tube (4), and a stiffening layer (3), the stiffening layer exerting pressure on the outer tube and thus producing high friction.

1 . A tubing apparatus comprising a stiffening section comprising an inner tube, a stiffening layer and an outer tube, the stiffening layer being arranged concentrically outside the inner tube and the outer tube being arranged concentrically outside the stiffening layer the inner tube and the outer tube being radially rigid and the stiffening layer being radially movable, wherein a pressure can be built up between the inner tube and the stiffening layer in such a way that the stiffening layer can be pressed from the inside against the outer tube and thus stiffens the stiffening section under pressure. 
     
     
         2 . The tubing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an expandable pressure tube is arranged between the inner tube and the stiffening layer. 
     
     
         3 . The tubing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the stiffening layer comprises at least two stabilizing elements, the orientation of the stabilizing elements having at least a partial vector in the longitudinal direction of the tubing apparatus and the stabilizing elements. 
     
     
         4 . The tubing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the stabilizing elements are made of at least one of a metal and a plastic. 
     
     
         5 . The tubing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube and the outer tube are designed to be pressure-tight and are made of at least one of a plastic and a metal. 
     
     
         6 . The tubing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubing apparatus comprises a fluid coupling through which a fluid can be introduced into a region between the inner tube and the stiffening layer. 
     
     
         7 . The tubing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubing apparatus at least partially comprises a material visible in X-rays. 
     
     
         8 . The tubing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a front portion of the tubing apparatus is conical. 
     
     
         9 . The tubing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a hydrophilic or hydrophobic coating is arranged on an outside of the outer tube. 
     
     
         10 . The tubing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the stiffening section forms a part or all of the tubing apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The tubing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube has an inner diameter of 1 mm to 11.333 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The tubing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube of the tubing apparatus comprises at least two lumens such that a plurality of devices can be inserted in separate lumens through the tubing apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . A set comprising a tubing apparatus according to  claim 1  and at least one dilator. 
     
     
         14 . A method for selectively stiffening call the tubing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubing apparatus is stiffened by introducing a fluid into the space between the inner tube and the stiffening layer. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein by reducing the pressure in the space between the inner tube and the stiffening layer, the tubing apparatus becomes movable again. 
     
     
         16 . A soft dilator comprising two lumens, a first lumen for a guide wire and a second lumen for a shaped wire, wherein the second lumen for the shaped wire is closed in the tip of the dilator and the first lumen for the guide wire is open. 
     
     
         17 . The tubing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubing apparatus is a gate apparatus for insertion into a body passage. 
     
     
         18 . The tubing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the pressure tube is at least one of elastic and unfoldable. 
     
     
         19 . The tubing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the stabilizing elements are displaceable relative to one another. 
     
     
         20 . The tubing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein a plurality of stabilizing elements are braided to form a braided structure. 
     
     
         21 . The tubing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the fluid coupling is configured such that fluid can be introduced into the pressure tube. 
     
     
         22 . The set according to  claim 13 , wherein the set comprises at least one soft dilator and at least one of a shaped wire and a guide wire. 
     
     
         23 . The soft dilator according to  claim 16 , wherein the soft dilator is hydrophilically coated. 
     
     
         24 . The soft dilator according to  claim 16 , wherein the soft dilator is softer than the shaped wire. 
     
     
         25 . The soft dilator according to  claim 16 , wherein the soft dilator is visible under X-rays.